aur kya zindagi rah gai
ek musalsal kami rah gai

waqt phir darmiyan aa gaya
baat phir an-kahi rah gai

pas jangal koi jal gaya
rakh har-su jami rah gai

zar ka indhan bani fikr-e-nau
shairi adh-mari rah gai

main na roya na khul kar hansa
har nafas tishnagi rah gai

tum na aae meri zindagi
rah takti hui rah gai

pas dariya-dili rakh liya
lakh tishna-labi rah gai

phir fana ka payam aa gaya
ek ummid thi rah gai

aap 'ahmad' kahan rah gae
aur kahan zindagi rah gai